GAO tallies nearly $50B in Pentagon weapons cost growth, increased delays

By Tony Bertuca / June 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The Pentagon's portfolio of major defense acquisition systems saw nearly $50 billion in unscheduled cost growth last year, mostly from the Air Force's Sentinel missile program, which accounted for 73% of the increase, according to the Government Accountability Office. Additionally, according to GAO’s annual assessment of Defense Department weapon systems, the expected average time for MDAPs to provide initial capability has increased by 18 months, up to almost 12 years from a program’ start. The cost growth was driven primarily...

Not a subscriber? Request 30 days free access to exclusive, behind-the-scenes reporting on defense policy and procurement.

Log in to access this content.